Condenser for refrigerating machines



Feb. 4, 1936. D. F. NEWMAN 2,029,391

, CONDENSER FOR REFRIGERATING MACHINES Filed May 27, 1935 2 Sheets sheet l Inventor": Del bar-t E Newman,

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Feb. 4, 1936. NEWMAN 2,029,891

CONDENSER FOR REFRIGERATING MACHINES Y Filed May 27, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor-.- Delberc F. Newman,

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Patented Feb. 4, 1936 UNITED STATES .PATENT OFFlCE' CONDENSER roa acmrcnasrmc moms Delbert F. Newman, Schenectady, Y., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application May 27, 1935, Serial No. 23,619 8 Claims.- (Cl. 257-36) Further objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds and the features of novelty which characterize my invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification.

For a better understanding of my invention,

reference may be had to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. l is a perspective View, partly in section, of a refrigerating machine adapted to cool a refrigerator .cabinet, or the like, the re-' frigerating machine having an air cooled condenser embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional plan View on the line 22 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a schematic representation of the refrigerant circulatory system of the condenser of the refrigerating machine shown in Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, I have shown a refrigerating machine including a hermetically sealed casing I0 containing a motor driven compressor unit, which supplies compressed gaseous refrigerant to an air cooled condenser I I embodying my invention. The compressed gaseous refrigerant is liquefied in the condenser and is supplied to a flooded type evaporator I2 which may be located in the food storage compartment of a refrigerator, or the like. The refrigerant in the evaporator vaporizes by the absorption of 'heat from the contents of the compartment. The vaporized refrigerant is returned to the compressor contained in the casing I0 and the cycle is repeated and continued until the cooling compartment is lowered to the desired temperature.

The condenser I I includes inner and outercylindrical members I3 and I4, respectively, which are arranged in spaced relation to each other and the casing I0. The outer cylindrical member I4 is made of sheets of metal I5 and I6 each having complementary sinuous indentations I1 and I8 formed therein. The sheets I5 and I6 are secured together in face engagement by welding, or otherwise securing them together, along their edges and along the entire length of contacting portions thereof between the indentations formed therein. They maybe secured together by a line weld, a series of closely spaced spot welds, by brazing, or in some similar manner. The sheets are then bent into the form of a cylinder and their ends are secured together by welding, 'or otherwise, along a seam I9, which is preferably located at the rear of the condenser. When so assembled, the sheets I5 and I6 define a sinuous refrigerant passage 20 formed by the cooperating indentations I I and I8 between their opposed faces which extend substantially about the cylindrical member. The refrigerant passage 20 is arranged in spaced upper and lower sections connected by a conduit I9a.

The condenser I I includes a second heat dissipating refrigerant conduit which extends about the casing I0 and is supported within the outer cylindrical member IE, but in spaced relation thereto. The provision of a refrigerating machine including a casing and an air cooled condenser comprising a cylindrical member, extending about the casing in spaced relation thereto and an extended heat dissipating refrigerant conduit extending about the casing and within the periphery of the outer cylindrical member is described and claimed in my application, Serial No. 755,559, filed December 1, 1934, and assigned to the General Electric Company, the assignee of my present invention.

The inner heat dissipating refrigerant conduit is formed by the inner cylindrical member I3,

which is made of sheets of metal 2| and 22. Complementary sinuous indentations 23 and 24 are formed in the sheets 2| and 22, respectively, the sheets then being secured together in face engagement by welding, or otherwise securing them together, along their edges and along the contacting portions thereof between the indentations'formed therein. The sheets 2| and 22 may be secured together by line welds, by a series of closely spaced spot welds, by brazing, or the like. The sheets 2I and 22 are then bent into the form of a cylinder with their longitudinal edges 25 and 26 disposed in spaced relationship. The edges 25 and 26 are preferably bent inwardly in the form of flanges, as best shown in Fig. 2, in order to strengthen the same. The complementary sinuous indentations 23 and 24 form a sinuous refrigerant passage 21 extending about the cylindrical member I3. As best shown in Fig.- 3, the refrigerant passage 21 formed in the cylindrical members I3 is divided into upper and lower sections which areconnected in series by a conduit 28.

A zigzag annulus of fins 30 is made of good heat conducting material, such as steel, and rigidly supports the outer cylindrical member I4 in spaced relation with respect to the inner cylindrical member I3, the fins being in good thermal contact with both of the cylindrical members. The ends of the annulus of fins 36 are arranged in spaced relationship as shown in Fig. 2. This construction is mounted on a series of U- shaped fins 3|, the bottoms of which conform to and are in good thermal contact with the periphery of the casing Ill. The outer ends of the U- shaped fins 3| are bent inwardly thus forming supporting surfaces on which the inner cylindrical member I3 is carried in thermal contact therewith. In the preferred process of assembly, the zigzag annulus of fins 38 is first placed within the cylindrical member I4. The inner cylindrical member I3 is then placed within the annulus of fins 30. The U-shaped fins 3| are mounted on supporting bars, or the like, which accurately locate them with respect to the inner cylindrical member I3. The casing I8, which is slightly tapered and of slightly larger diameter than the inside of the annulus of fins 3|, is then pressed into position within the annulus of fins 3L, The resilience of the fins 30 and 3| causes the entire assembly to be held firmly in position on the casing ID.

A control device for the motor contained in the casing I8 is mounted in a rectangular casing 33, which is secured to the inner side of the outer cylindrical member I4 and extends between the spaced longitudinal edges 25 and 26 of the inner cylindrical member I3. The casing 33 is secured in position on the cylindrical member I4 by an inverted U-shaped clamp 34. The casing 33 is provided with a flange 35 atthe front end thereof and a screw 36 rigidly connects the upper portion of the flange 35 and the horizontal portion of the supporting clamp 34. The clamp 34 is secured to the outer cylindrical member I4 by a pair of screws 31 which pass through holes 38 formed in the cylindrical member I4 so as to securely attach the casing 33 to the annular member I4. The control device contained in the .casing 33 is provided with a pair of manual operating knobs 39 and 40 which extend through holes 4| and 42, respectively, formed in the outer cylindrical member I4. A round escutcheon plate 43, having apertures therein through which the control knobs 39 and 48 extend, is removably secured to the front of the outer cylindrical member I4 by a pair of split pins 44 which engage holes 45 formed in the cylindrical member I4, the pins 44 being secured to the escutcheon plate 43. The control device in the casing 33 is provided with a conduit 46 connecting the same with a suitable temperature responsive device and is also provided with a cable 4'! connecting it with the control circuit of the motor located in the casing l0.

The refrigerating machine, described above, is mounted on a removable top wall of a domestic refrigerator cabinet, or the like. The wall includes a rectangular sheet metal top portion 48 having a circular aperture 49 in the center thereof. The lower portion of the casing I0 extends into the aperture 49 and is welded, or otherwise ment. The sheet metal top portion 48 is provided with a rectangular wooden strengthening frame 5| rigidly secured thereto, which extends about the lower side thereof and which is provided with a peripheral groove 52. The liner 50 and frame 5| are connected by a series of suitable bolts and spacer blocks, the bolts being threaded in nuts welded to the lower side of the sheet metal top portion 48 of the top wall (not shown). The sheet metal portion 48 of the top wall and liner 50 are separated by a layer of heat insulating material 55. The sides of the'insulation 55 are covered by a band 53 of fibre board or other heat insulating material, the lower edge of the band 53 being arranged within the flange 54 on the top liner 50. The evaporator I2 is se-, cured to the lower side of the liner 50, so that the entire refrigerating machine may be removed from the refrigerator upon the removal of the top wall thus formed. When the top wall and refrigerating machine are in position in the top of the refrigerator, the housing rests on a downwardly extending peripheral flange 55' formed on the sheet metal portion 48 of the top wall which is provided with a rubber sealing gasket 56.

In the operation of the refrigerating machine, described above, gaseous refrigerant such as sulphur dioxide is compressed by the motor driven compressor contained in the casing I0 and is discharged therefrom through a conduit 51. The conduit 51 is connected in series with a heat dissipating refrigerant conduit 58 extending about the lower side of the sheet metal portion 48 of the top wall. The conduit 58 is made of good heat conducting material and is provided with a flat upper surface which is in good thermal contact with the sheet metal portion 48 of the top wall.

-The sheet metal portion 48 of the top wall is thus utilized to dissipate heat from the compressed gaseous refrigerant contained in the conduit 5a.

The provision of a refrigerating machine mounted on a removable upper wall of a cabinet and including a heat dissipating conduit of a condenser arranged in thermal contact with a sheet metal portion of the wall thus utilizing this wall to dissipate heat from the condenser is not my invention, but is the invention of Christian Steenstrup and is described and claimed in his application Serial No. 29,036, filed June 29, 1935, and assigned to the General Electric Company, the assignee of my present invention.

The refrigerant leaving the conduit 58 passes through a conduit 59 into the passage 21 formed in the inner cylindrical member 3 of the condenser I After circulating through the passage 21, the refrigerant passes through a conduit 60 which connects the passage 21 formed in the inner cylindrical member I3 and the passage 28 formed in the outer cylindrical member I4 in series. The compressed gaseous refrigerant is liquefied by the transfer of heat therefrom to the surrounding cooling air. Part of the heat is transferred to the cooling air from the sheet metal top portion 48 which is in contact with the conduit 58, part of the heat is transferred to the air which circulates over the surfaces of the inner and outer cylindrical members I3 and I4 of the condenser II, and part of the heat is dissipated through the fins 30 and 3|v to the surrounding cooling air. The fins 3| also serve to aid in dissipating heat from the casing I0 to the cooling air which circulates upwardly over the fins. The fins 30 and 3| are preferably given a sufiicient radial length so that heat is dissipated therefrom at a sufficiently high rate to maintain the central portions of the fins at a lower temperature than the end portions thereof. Inthat way the fins 3| serve to disaoaaaoi without bringing the sections in heat exchange relation. The cooling air circulates upwardly over the surfaces of the cover 48, the inner and outer cylindrical members i3 and I4 and the fins 30 and 3| by natural draft. The refrigerant.

liquefied in the condenser II is discharged therefrom through a conduit 6 I through which it passes to a flow controlling float valve chamber 62. The liquid refrigerant is then supplied to the evaporator I 2 from the float valve chamber 62 through an outlet extension 63 formed on the float valve chamber 62 and a conduit 64.

The evaporator l 2 is of the sheet metal type and is provided with a horizontal header 65 in the upper portion thereof, formed in the complementary sheets of metal of the evaporator. A series of refrigerant circulator passages 66 is formed by corrugations provided in the outer sheet of the evaporator l2 which communicate with the header 65. The header 65 isnormally maintained about halffull of liquid-refrigerant, so that the circulatory passages 66 are maintained flooded. The liquid refrigerant in the-evaporator i2 is vaporized by the absorption of heat from the cooling compartment in which the evaporator is located and the vaporized refrigerant is accumulated in the header 6'5 above the level of the liquid refrigerant contained therein. The vaporized refrigerant thus accumulated in the header 65 is withdrawn therefrom, through a suction conduit 61 through which it returns to the casing in and enters the intake of the motor driven compressor contained in the casing. It will be noted that the suction conduit 61 is provided with a section 68 having a square cross section which is in good thermal contact with the outlet extension 63 of the float valve chamber 62. The cold gaseous refrigerant passing through the conduit 61 and section .68 thereof, is thus utilized to cool the liquid refrigerant passing to the evaporator l2.-

While I have shown a particular embodiment of my invention in connection with a compression type refrigerating machine, I do not desire my invention to be limited to the particular construction shown and described, and I intend, in the appended claims, to cover all modifications within the spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure b Letters Patent in the United States is: a

l. A refrigerating machine having a casing, an air cooled condenser including a cylindrical member having an extended refrigerant passage formed therein, said cylindrical member surrounding said casing in spaced relation thereto, a support of heat conducting material connecting said casing and said cylindrical member, said condenser also including a 'second cylindrical member having an extended refrigerant passage formed therein, said second cylindrical member surrounding said first mentioned cylindrical member in spaced relation thereto, and a second support of heat conducting material connecting said cylindrical members.

2. A refrigerating machine having a casing, an air cooled condenser including a cylindrical member having an extended refrigerant passage formed therein, said cylindrical member sur-- rounding said casing in spaced relation thereto,

a support of heat. conducting material connecting said casing and -said cylindrical member, said condenser also including a second cylindrical member having an extended refrigerant passage formed therein, said second cylindrical member surrounding said first Smention'ed cylindrical member in spaced relation thereto, and means" including a zigzag annulus of fins of heat conducting material for connecting said cylindrical members.

3. A refrigerating machine having a casing, an air cooled condenser including a cylindrical member surrounding said casing in spaced relation thereto, a support of heat conducting material connecting said casing and said cylindrical member, said condenser also including a second cylindrical member. surrounding said first mentioned cylindrical member in spaced relation thereto each of said cylindrical members including .a plurality of metallic sheets having juxtaposedfaces and defining a sinuous refrigerant passage between their juxtaposed faces, and a second support of heat conducting material connecting said cylindrical members.

4. A refrigerating machine having a casing, an air cooled condenser including a cylindrical member surrounding said casing in spaced relation thereto, a support of heat conducting material connecting said casing and said cylindrical member, said condenser also including a second cylindrical member surrounding said first mentioned cylindrical member in spaced relation thereto, each of said cylindrical members comprising contacting metallic sheets joined together in'face engagement, at least one of said sheets in each of said cylindrical members having a sinuous indentation formed therein cooperating with an adjacent sheet to form a sinuous refrigerant passage extending thereabout, and a second support of heat conducting material connecting said cylindrical members.

5. A refrigerating machine having a casing, an air cooled condenser including a cylindrical member surrounding said casing in spaced-relation thereto, a support of heat conducting material connecting said casing and said cylindrical member, said condenser also including a second cylindrical member surrounding said first mentioned cylindrical member in spaced relation thereto, each of said cylindrical members comprising contacting metallic sheets formed together in face engagement, at least one of said sheets in each of said cylindrical membershaving a sinuous indentation formed therein coperating with an adjacent sheet to form a sinuous refrigerant passage extending thereabout, and means including a zigzag annulus of heat conducting fins for connecting said cylindrical mem bers.

6. A refrigerating machine having a casing, an air cooled condenser including a cylindrical member having an extended refrigerant passage formed therein, said cylindrical member surrounding said casing in spaced relation thereto, the longitudinal edges of. said cylindrical member being arranged in spaced relation, a support of heat conducting material connecting said casing and said cylindrical member, said condenser also including a second cylindrical member having an extended refrigerant passage formed therein, said second cylindrical member surrounding said first mentioned cylindrical member in spaced relation thereto, a. second support of heat conducting material connecting said cylindrical members, said condenser being adapted to have a control device for said refrigerating machine arranged between said longitudinal edges of said first mentioned cylindrical member, and means for mounting said control device on said second cylindrical member.

7. A refrigerating machine havinga casing, an aircooled condenser including a cylindrical member having an extended refrigerant passage formed therein, said cylindrical member surrounding said casing in spaced relation thereto, the longitudinal edges of said cylindrical member being arranged in spaced relation, a support of heat conducting material connecting said casing and said cylindrical member, said condenser also including a second cylindrical member having an extended refrigerant passage formed therein, said cylindrical member surrounding said first mentioned cylindrical member in spaced relation thereto, the longitudinal edges of. said second cylindrical member being secured together in a position substantially diametrically opposite from said longitudinal edges of said first mentioned cylindrical member, a second support of heat conducting material connecting said cy1indrical members, said condenser being adapted to have a control device for said refrigerating machine arranged between said longitudinal edges of said first mentioned cylindrical member, and

means for mounting said control device on said second cylindrical member. I

8. A refrigerating machine having a casing, an air cooled condenser including a cylindrical member surrounding said casing in spaced relation thereto, the longitudinal edges of said cylindrical member being arranged in spaced relation, a support ofheat conducting material connecting said casing and said cylindrical member, said condenser. also including a second cylindrical member surrounding said first mentioned cylindrical member in spaced relation thereto, the longitudinal edges of said second cylindrical member being secured together in a position substantially diametrically opposite from said longitudinal edges of said first mentioned cylindrical member, each of said cylindrical members comprising a plurality of sheets having juxtaposed faces and defining a sinuous refrigerant passage between their juxtaposed faces, a second support of heat conducting material connecting said cylindrical members, said condenser being adapted to have a control device for said refrigerating machine arranged between said longitudinal edges of said first mentioned cylindrical member, and means for. mounting said control device on said second cylindrical member.

DELBERT F. NEWMAN. 

